In this review, we will be comparing A190 and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage A190 | Klipsch R-820F |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Polycellulose | 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-40k Hz | 35-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 97 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-225 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.61kg / 49.7lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-15/16" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"
1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm | 43-1/8" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"
1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL Stage A190 |
Klipsch R-820F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A190 and R-820F are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage A190Klipsch R-820F
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A190 |
Klipsch R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer.
Frequency Response
A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go slightly deeper then the A190's min frequency of 36Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
A190 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-820F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A190 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A190, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the A190.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A190 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare JBL Stage A190's and Klipsch R-820F's external dimensions. JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm (43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm (43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch).
JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 21mm taller and 19mm deeper than Klipsch R-820F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A190 and Klipsch R-820F Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The A190 requires 27% more surface area than the R-820F which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs and the Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R-820F 9% heavier than the A190.
Here is a comparison of how A190 and R-820F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A190?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A190:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Feet
- 4 Screws
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
- Loudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1198USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2
vs
1499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A190 |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (36Hz vs 35Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Klipsch R-820F is more sensitive (97dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Klipsch R-820F is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
JBL Stage A190 takes more power (225W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Klipsch R-820F is easier to place; JBL Stage A190 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
A |
JBL Stage A190: bi-amping. JBL Stage A190 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
JBL Stage A190 is cheaper - $1,000 against $1,198, about 17% less. |
A JBL Stage A190
B Klipsch R-820F
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement or how you will use them.
Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Stage A190 the better fit for a very large room, and Klipsch R-820F for a mid-size room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch R-820F is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.